Welsh Journals

basins. If such features are clear to a modern reviewer, they must have been all too apparent to the Luftwaffe's photographic interpreters! The photographs, too, are fascinating in that in a sense they show two towns which no longer exist: post-war redevelopment of much of the industrial areas and docks, not to mention changes in Tiger Bay and Cardiff Bay, means that the appearance of present day Cardiff and Barry is very different from the views captured in the photographs. As in his first volume, Nigel Robins has provided the reader with extensive information about German aerial reconnaissance techniques, details of the Luftwaffe units involved and their aircraft, and the background to the photographs themselves. His account of the South Wales ports at war provides a penetrating analysis of their operation, the logistical problems which they encountered, and the strategic role which they played in the British war effort. It is particularly interesting to see what part the U-boat also played in the threat to the ports of South Wales. One tends to think that the main danger came from potential air attacks, but, as Robins points out, many ports in the Bristol Channel were under the almost constant surveillance of U-boats, and their approaches were rendered vulnerable by the mines laid by these vessels. Each reconnaissance photograph is also provided with a very full explanatory caption, which describes the features to be seen and gives historical information. Where bomb damage is apparent in the photographs, reference is made in the captions to the specific raid which may have caused it. However, the book contains no list of air raids, which might have been useful to the non-specialist reader. The book has been as attractively produced as the earlier volume. The A4 format means that the reconnaissance photographs have reproduced well and are of a size which allows comfortable viewing. Doubtless, however, many aficionados will spend hours inspecting every detail with a magnifying glass! Each page of text has been printed over a faint background variously showing German aircraft, unit insignia, and dockland views. Generally, this gives a very attractive effect which enhances the appearance of the book. However, on two pages, where the text of a German lading plan for the Domier Do 17 bomber has been used as a background, the effect resembles that of print-through from the reverse page, and has not quite worked. If future volumes are produced, this should perhaps be borne in mind: photographs and drawings enhance, textual backgrounds detract. In this volume and in the previous one, Nigel Robins has hit on a winning formula which has resulted in two studies of great -value and interest to military